Oven door window unit



Dec. 25, 1962 H. E. MILLS 3,070,085 OVEN DOOR WINDOW UNIT Filed Aug. 8, 1960 I 5 A? I I I M R, i i i L20 I 46 t '/-2z 1 .11 f 6 T H W4 3 T f. I a t. 24% (40 l E INVEN TOR. erhsrz Z fifz'ZZs.

J "W W W United States Patent igan Filed Aug. 8, 1960, Ser. No. 48,023 3 Claims. (Cl. 126200) This invention relates to window units for oven doors and has particular reference to a new and improved oven door and window construction which simplifies assembly of the oven door and repair or replacement of the Window unit used in the oven door.

According to the present invention a window unit of the kind commonly used in oven doors is secured to the front and back panels of the door in a novel manner so that the window unit can be assembled after assembly of the oven door and so that the window unit may be replaced or repaired without the necessity of disassembling the oven door.

A principal object of the invention is to provide a new and improved oven door having a window unit therein.

Another object of the invention is to provide a new and improved means for mounting a window unit within an oven door.

Other and further objects of the invention will be apparent from the following description and claims and may be understood by reference to the accompanying drawing, which by way of illustration shows a preferred embodiment of the invention and what I now consider to be the best mode of applying the principles thereof. Other embodiments of the invention may be used without departing from the scope of the present invention as set forth in the appended claims.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of an oven door and window assembly constructed in accordance with the principles of this invention;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on line 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken on line 3--3 of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 4 is an exploded view of the door and window unit.

The invention is illustrated in connection with an oven door, although it will be apparent that the window unit and the mountnig arrangement therefor may be used in other installations. The door consists of front and back door panels 12 and 14 having a window unit 16 therein. The window unit 16 comprises spaced glass panels 18 having a continuous spacer 20 therebetween and a clamping and sealing member 22 surrounding the peripheral edges of the glass panels 18 and clamping the same against the spacer 20. The window unit may be similar to that shown in my copending application Serial No. 786,139, filed January 12, 1959, for Stove Door Window Unit, now Patent No. 3,021,832, issued February 20, 1962, although the mounting arrangement to be described might be used with other types of window units.

The back door panel 14 is provided with an inwardly extending continuous flange 24 defining a window opening in the panel 14. The front door panel 12 is provided with an opening 26 which is slightly larger than the opening in the back panel 14 so that the window unit 16 may be inserted or removed through the opening 26 in the front panel 12 after the door is completely assembled. The door 10 is otherwise of conventional construction.

The window unit is provided with a series of spacing members 30 which are secured around the periphery of the clamping member 22 such as by spot welding or in any other suitable manner. The back door panel 14 is provided with apertures 32 each of which is aligned with one of the spacing members 30. The spacing members 30 are provided with grooved central portions 34. Screws 36 are inserted through the apertures 32 in the door panel 14 and extend freely through the grooved portions 34 of the spacing members 30 and into threaded engagement with a continuous trim strip 40. The trim strip 40 is provided with an outer leg 42 which is adapted to be seated on the outer surface of the front door panel 12 around the opening 26 therein and an inner leg 44 which is adapted to cover the gap between the edge of the opening 26 and the window unit 16 and to engage the outer glass panel 18. The trim strip 40 is provided with bosses 46 which are drilled and tapped to define threaded sockets receiving the screws 36.

The window unit 16 may be mounted in the door 10 by inserting the window unit through the opening 26 in the door panel 12. The flange 24 on the back panel 14 is disposed inside of and covers the flange 48 on the sealing and clamping member 22. The inner ends of the spacers 30 engage the inside surface of the back door panel 14. The screws 36 are then inserted through the apertures 32. The trim strip 40 is then held in place and the screws 36 threaded into the threaded sockets in the bosses 46 on the trim strip 40 to draw the trim strip against the window unit and the front door panel to complete the assembly. Preferably, the inner ends of the bosses 46 engage one of the parallel sides of the clamping and sealing member 22 when the screws 36 are tightened, thereby to clamp the window unit firmly against the back door panel 14. Preferably, the flange 24 on the back panel 14 and the leg 44 of the trim strip 40 do not actually engage the glass panels 18 but, in any event, the clamping pressure is not exerted directly on the glass panels but rather against the member 22 and the back door panel 14.

It will be seen that with the construction described the window unit 16 may be replaced or removed for repair merely by removing the trim strip 40 and withdrawing the window unit from the door without the necessity of any disassembly of the door itself.

While I have illustrated and described a preferred embodiment of my invention, it is understood that this is capable of modification, and I therefore do not wish to be limited to the precise details set forth but desire to avail myself of such changes and alterations as fall within the purview of the following claims.

I claim:

1. In an oven door having front and back panels provided with aligned window openings therein, a window unit positioned between said panels and within said openings, the opening in one of said door panels being larger than said window unit whereby the latter may be inserted and removed through such opening, a continuous trim strip covering the gap between the edge of the opening in said one door panel and said window unit, a series of spacing members secured on said window unit and engaging the inner surface of the other of said door panels, and screws extending through said other door panel into threaded engagement with said trim strip for clamping the latter against said one door panel and said spacing members thereby to clamp said window unit against said other door panel, said screws cooperating with said spacing members to locate said window unit relative to said panels and securing said panels together.

2. In an oven door having front and back door panels, said back door panel having an opening therein and an inwardly extending flange around said opening, said front door panel having an opening therein aligned with and of larger size than said opening in said back panel, a window unit between said panels and comprising spaced glass panels having a continuous spacer therebetween and a clamping frame surrounding the peripheral edges of said glass panels and clamping the same against said spacer, said flange on said back door panel engaging said clamping frame for locating said window unit within said openings, said opening in said front door panel being larger than said window unit whereby the latter may be inserted through such opening, a continuous trim strip covering the gap between the edge of the opening in said front door panel and said window unit, a series of spacing members secured around the periphery of said clamping frame and engaging the inner surface of said back door panel, and screws extending through said back door panel and said spacing members into threaded engagement with said trim' strip for clamping the latter against said front door panel and said spacing members thereby to clamp said window unit to said door, said screws cooperating with said spacing members to locate said window unit relative to said panels and securing said panels together.

3. In an oven door having front and back door panels provided with aligned window openings therein, a window unit positioned between said panels and within said openings and engaging the inner surface of said back door panel around the opening therein, the opening in said front panel being larger than said window unit whereby the latter may be inserted and removed through such opening, a continuous trim strip covering the gap between said window unit and the edge of the opening in said front door panel, said trim strip engaging said window unit, and screws extending through said back panel into threaded engagement with said trim strip for clamping said trim strip against said front door panel and said window unit thereby to secure said window unit against said back door panel, said screws forming the sole fastening means for securing said panels together.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,659,430 Himmel et a1 Feb. 14, 1928 2,319,004 Lotter May 11, 1943 2,724,873 Cameron Nov. 29, 1955 2,733,706 Feder Feb. 7, 1956 

